Alexander Isak Burglars Ordered to Repay Only £1 Each from £1.2 Million Thefts

Burglary suspects
Charlie Jovanovic confessed to participating in the crimes

Individuals of an Italian clan of burglars who stole more than £1.2 million valued of goods, including from ex- Newcastle United striker Alexander Isak, have been ordered to pay back only £1 each.

Siblings Valentino Nikolov and Giacomo Nikolov, their female sibling Jela Jovanovic and her child Charlie Jovanovic journeyed to the north-east of England to burgle multiple homes in spring 2024.

The foursome were imprisoned for between six and 10 years in 2025.

At a criminal assets proceeding at the court, Jela and the Nikolov brothers were ordered to pay back £1 each while Charlie Jovanovic must hand over £1,135.

Details of the Break-ins

The judge was told the gang arrived by boat in the United Kingdom on 27 March 2024 and employed a RV as their "headquarters", which they stationed at Scotch Corner and Durham rest stops while using another car to search for targets and carry out thefts.

On 31 March they stole more than £1m of items such as designer clothing, handbags, jewellery and a honor from a house on Clayton Road in Jesmond, while the residents were on holiday.

Valentino Nikolov
Valentino Nikolov was the sole member of the foursome to contest the charge but was found guilty by jurors

The following night, the crew broke into a house on a private road in Whitburn, South Tyneside, and stole luxury bags, jewellery and footwear valued at more than one hundred thousand pounds.

Following surveillance of the football club's facility for two days, they then acted at the residence of Sweden player Mr Isak in Darras Hall on 4 April, taking £10,000 in cash, sixty-eight thousand pounds valued of jewelry and the striker's one hundred twenty thousand pound Audi RS6.

The group, who were described by prosecutors as experienced touring burglars, used hand coverings and face coverings, switched their phones on silent as they approached their targets and strapped a number plate, which had been stolen from a auto shop in Chester-le-Street, on to their car with rubber straps.

They were arrested in the Birmingham on April 13.

Alexander Isak's home
Burglars stole cash and jewelry worth £80,000 and an car from footballer Alexander Isak's home

Legal Hearings and Sentencing

Valentino had denied conspiracy to burglary but was convicted by the court, while his three relations had all entered guilty pleas to the identical accusation.

At the proceeds of crime session, lawyer the prosecution said every one of the defendants had profited from their offenses to the amount of over £1.2 million, which was based on what the affected parties said they had lost.

But Charlie was the sole individual deemed to have any funds that could be "realised", specifically £1,135.50 which had previously been confiscated by police, the court was informed, with 14 days to be served in prison if he failed to pay.

The remaining members had no money or assets so were directed to pay a token amount of £1 per person, with one week in incarceration the consequence if the money was not paid.

Judge Spragg said if they were discovered with assets in the coming years, "such as operating in Italy in a sports car or owning a home", prosecutors could seek further action to "satisfy the amount due".

Matthew Clark
Matthew Clark

A seasoned casino enthusiast and gaming analyst with over a decade of experience in online slots and gambling strategies.